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Step 1
Determine the amount of money you want to invest in a French horn. Use the maturity and experience of the student as a guideline.
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Step 2
Add in the cost of a strong case of wood or metal with plenty of internal protective padding.
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Step 3
Compare and evaluate the tone of a variety of instruments using your own mouthpiece. Use different lead pipes to reveal tonal variance.
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Step 4
Evaluate the ease of producing a pedal tone. This will reveal tonal resonance.
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Step 5
Determine the comfort and placement of the left hand relative to the four valve levers.
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Step 6
Produce a "rip" (see glossary) at various speeds from slow to fast. This will reveal the quality of the changes between "overtones." Listen for clarity.
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Step 7
Have a qualified listener help you evaluate tone quality.
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Step 8
Realize that bell construction and the nature of the bell or "flare" (how quickly and large the final opening becomes) vary with the manufacturer.
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Step 9
Purchase a strong case with a key or combination lock-latch to discourage those eager to experiment with a friend's instrument.







